Effects of Multirate Systems on the Statistical Properties of Random Signals

In multirate digital signal processing, we often encounter time-varying linear systems such as decimators, interpolators, and modulators. In many applications, these building blocks are interconnected with linear filters to form more complicated systems. It is often necessary to understand the way in which the statistical behavior of a signal changes as it passes through such systems. While some issues in this context have an obvious answer, the analysis becomes more involved with complicated interconnections. For example, consider this question: if we pass a cyclostationary signal with period K through a fractional sampling rate-changing device (implemented with an interpolator, a nonideal low-pass filter and a decimator), what can we say about the statistical properties of the output? How does the behavior change if the filter is replaced by an ideal low-pass filter? In this paper, we answer questions of this nature. As an application, we consider a new adaptive filtering structure, which is well suited for the identification of band-limited channels. This structure exploits the band-limited nature of the channel, and embeds the adaptive filter into a multirate system. The advantages are that the adaptive filter has a smaller length, and the adaptation as well as the filtering are performed at a lower rate. Using the theory developed in this paper, we show that a matrix adaptive filter (dimension determined by the decimator and interpolator) gives better performance in terms of lower error energy at convergence than a traditional adaptive filter. Even though matrix adaptive filters are, in general, computationally more expensive, they offer a performance bound that can be used as a yardstick to judge more practical "scalar multirate adaptation" schemes

Identification and functional characterization of the intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (IK-1) in biliary epithelium

In the liver, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an extracellular signaling molecule that is released into bile and stimulates a biliary epithelial cell secretory response via engagement of apical P2 receptors. The molecular identities of the ion channels involved in ATP-mediated secretory responses have not been fully identified. Intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (IK) have been identified in biliary epithelium, but functional data are lacking. The aim of these studies therefore was to determine the location, function, and regulation of IK channels in biliary epithelial cells and to determine their potential contribution to ATP-stimulated secretion. Expression of IK-1 mRNA was found in both human Mz-Cha-1 biliary cells and polarized normal rat cholangiocyte (NRC) monolayers, and immunostaining revealed membrane localization with a predominant basolateral signal. In single Mz-Cha-1 cells, exposure to ATP activated K+ currents, increasing current density from 1.6 ± 0.1 to 7.6 ± 0.8 pA/pF. Currents were dependent on intracellular Ca2+ and sensitive to clotrimazole and TRAM-34 (specific IK channel inhibitors). Single-channel recording demonstrated that clotrimazole-sensitive K+ currents had a unitary conductance of 46.2 ± 1.5 pS, consistent with IK channels. In separate studies, 1-EBIO (an IK activator) stimulated K+ currents in single cells that were inhibited by clotrimazole. In polarized NRC monolayers, ATP significantly increased transepithelial secretion which was inhibited by clotrimazole. Lastly, ATP-stimulated K+ currents were inhibited by the P2Y receptor antagonist suramin and by the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor inhibitor 2-APB. Together these studies demonstrate that IK channels are present in biliary epithelial cells and contribute to ATP-stimulated secretion through a P2Y-IP3 receptor pathway

Apolipoprotein B, Residual Cardiovascular Risk After Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Effects of Alirocumab.

Background: Apolipoprotein B (apoB) provides an integrated measure of atherogenic risk. Whether apoB levels and apoB lowering hold incremental predictive information on residual risk after acute coronary syndrome beyond that provided by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is uncertain. Methods: The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) compared the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite optimized statin therapy. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal/nonfatal ischemic stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina). Associations between baseline apoB or apoB at 4 months and MACE were assessed in adjusted Cox proportional hazards and propensity score–matched models. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. In proportional hazards analysis in the placebo group, MACE incidence increased across increasing baseline apoB strata (3.2 [95% CI, 2.9–3.6], 4.0 [95% CI, 3.6–4.5], and 5.5 [95% CI, 5.0–6.1] events per 100 patient-years in strata 35–<50, and ≤35 mg/dL, respectively). Compared with propensity score–matched patients from the placebo group, treatment hazard ratios for alirocumab also decreased monotonically across achieved apoB strata. Achieved apoB was predictive of MACE after adjustment for achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not vice versa. Conclusions: In patients with recent acute coronary syndrome and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins, MACE increased across baseline apoB strata. Alirocumab reduced MACE across all strata of baseline apoB, with larger absolute reductions in patients with higher baseline levels. Lower achieved apoB was associated with lower risk of MACE, even after accounting for achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, indicating that apoB provides incremental information. Achievement of apoB levels as low as ≤35 mg/dL may reduce lipoprotein-attributable residual risk after acute coronary syndrome. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01663402.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01663402.URL: https://www